Mark Begich (D-Alaska)

Sen. Mark Begich beat out everyone’s favorite Senate curmudgeon, “Uncle” Ted Stevens (R), in a tight race last fall. And while he’s seen as a modest improvement in the environmental realm, he’s also a steadfast supporter of increased oil and gas drilling, including in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Begich has advocated for a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. “Alaska is ground zero for the effects of climate change,” Begich told Grist last summer, noting that climate policy should include adaptation strategies for places like his home state that are already feeling its effects. During his run for the Senate, he called for a renewable electricity standard of 25 percent by 2025 and efficiency improvements to reduce energy consumption 25 percent by 2018.

But this year he was among the Democrats who voted against passing climate policy through the budget reconciliation process.

Stories in this series:

Kent Conrad Sen. Kent Conrad’s colleague in the House, Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), voted against the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act, and Conrad says he wouldn’t vote for the bill either. He also joined with three other moderate …

Blanche Lincoln Sen. Blanche Lincoln recently called the House climate and energy bill “a complete non-starter,” and pledged that the Senate would move more slowly in crafting legislation in order to address the concerns of specific legislators and regions. Lincoln’s …

Claire McCaskillSen. Claire McCaskill doesn’t think the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill that passed the House in June stands much chance of passing the Senate, and she would not support the bill as it stands. During House debate on the …